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Side Trips from Rome Sights

Villa d'Este

Fodor's Review

One of Italy's UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Villa d'Este was created by Cardinal Ippolito d'Este in the 16th century. This villa in the center of Tivoli was the most amazing pleasure garden of its day, and it still stuns visitors with its beauty. Este (1509–72), a devotee of the Renaissance celebration of human ingenuity over nature, was inspired by the excavation of Villa Adriana. He paid architect Pirro Ligorrio an astronomical sum to create a mythical garden with water as its artistic centerpiece and diverted the Aniene River to water the garden and feed the several hundred fountains that cascade, shoot skyward, imitate birdsong, and simulate rain. The musical Fontana dell'Organo has been restored to working order: the organ plays a watery tune every two hours. Romantics will love the night tour of the gardens and floodlit fountains that takes place on Friday and Saturday in summer. Allow at least an hour for a visit, which involves many stairs. No refreshments are available inside the garden.